Episode 17, "Fathers, In the Heart of God"

 Hello, and welcome to Episode 17 in our series, “In the Heart of God.” Today our topic is “Fathers” because “Fathers Are In the Heart of God.” Father’s Day is Sunday, and we will discuss honoring our fathers; we will see how Jesus honored His Father. and how Jesus cared about other fathers during his ministry. Finally, we will consider those who have recently lost a father and those who are fatherless. Join me, Stephanie Wright, as we celebrate fathers on every level, past and present, who are “In the Heart of God.” Next week we will continue our series “Women Who Got What They Wanted.”
Happy Father’s Day to all the Fathers, Grandfathers, Surrogate Fathers, Fathers on every level.

If you would like to be a guest on our podcast, email us at cgmpresents@gmail.com 

We can be reached on Facebook at "CGM Presents: In the Word Podcast," and our handle for Twitter and Instagram is @cgmissions, and for YouTube is cgmissions. CGM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations may be sent through CashApp to $cgmissions

If you want to contact us or comment on this podcast, please visit our website at cgmissions.com/podcast, where all episodes are available by category in series format. You can see the most recent video and audio podcasts at:
www.youtube.com/@cgmissionsinc then select from the video or podcast"Playlist."

CGM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations may be made on our website: https://www.cgmissions.com/donate-here/

Transcript

Hello, and welcome to Episode 17 in our series, “In the Heart of God.” Today our topic is “Fathers” because “Fathers Are In the Heart of God.” Father’s Day is Sunday, and we will discuss honoring our fathers; we will see how Jesus honored His Father. and how Jesus cared about other fathers during his ministry. Finally, we will consider those who have recently lost a father and those who are fatherless. Join me, Stephanie Wright, as we celebrate fathers on every level, past and present, who are “In the Heart of God.” Next week we will continue our series “Women Who Got What They Wanted.”
Happy Father’s Day to all the Fathers, Grandfathers, Surrogate Fathers, and Fathers on every level.
If you have a father or someone in your life who has been like a father, be sure you call and say, “Happy Father’s Day.”This message is relevant even after Father’s Day because we should honor our fathers every day; in other words, show them respect because that is what the Word tells us to do, honor our fathers and mothers. Mark 7:10, Mark 10:19, Matthew 15:4, and Matthew 19:19.
We show obedience to God when we honor our fathers because it is in the Word of God. Jesus, our perfect example, honored his Father and Jesus showed us how he cared for other fathers. So, if you want to be like Jesus, honor your Father whether you believe he was a good father or not.
If you are a father or father figure and do not get that call wishing you a Happy Father’s Day, know this, “Fathers Are in the Heart of God.” Jesus cares for you. 
First, let’s look at how Jesus honored His Father and then how Jesus honored other fathers during His ministry.
Jesus honored his Father through complete obedience to Him. Jesus said, “I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me.” John 6:38. Jesus was obedient to his Father even through all kinds of temptation. Hebrews 4:15, “For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin. Jesus was obedient even unto death,“And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:8.
Let’s look at examples of how Jesus cared for other fathers.
In John 4:43-54, Jesus heard the plea of a nobleman whose son was dying. The man wanted Jesus to come to his home, but Jesus told him to go home, his son was alive. The man believed and while he was headed home, a servant met him and told him his son was healed. The nobleman learned from the servant that the son’s fever broke about the same time Jesus said the son would be healed. After this miracle, the nobleman believed in Jesus, and his whole house. Jesus cared for this Father and the Father’s son. In Matthew 9, Mark 5, and Luke 8, Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter back to life. In fact, Jairus told Jesus his daughter was dead, but he believed Jesus could bring her back to life if he just laid His hand on her. When Jesus came to the house, He said the daughter was not dead but asleep. The people who had gathered to mourn her death laughed at Him. But Jesus put them out of the house, took her hand, and she arose. Again, Jesus shows a father he cares for him and his concerns. Fathers are in the heart of God. Our last Father came to Jesus because his son was possessed with an unclean spirit that caused him to throw himself into fire and into water. The scripture says, “Jesus rebuked the devil, and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.” Matthew 17:14-20. Again, Jesus heard a father’s plea for his son to be healed. Consider this, Jesus could save the daughter and sons of these fathers, but God could not save His own Son from the cross and dying for our sins. But as we said at the beginning of this podcast, Jesus went to the cross out of obedience to His Father and love for us. As a result of his obedience and His love, we are not fatherless. That’s our transition into the last section of our podcast. God is a “Father to the Fatherless.” This part is to encourage those of you who have lost a father or never known a father or feel abandoned by your Father. When we talk about fatherlessness, we are talking about a father who has passed away, a father who is not in the home, or a father who is in the home but is not a good father. The definition of a “good father” is relative. If you had a father in your life - even someone who may not have been considered a great father, you still had a father, and you should be grateful. It is rough growing up without a father. I know because I was one of those kids. I am not going to go into detail on everything I experienced because you can listen to Episode 2 in our series “Hope Beyond Brokenness, Fatherlessness” to listen to my story. But, the vital part of that story is that I overcame my feelings of fatherlessness after I dedicated my life to Christ. One day, I read in Psalm 68:5 that God is a “father of the fatherless.” That sealed it for me. I latched onto that scripture as if my very life depended on it because it did! I no longer had to feel sad, lonely, and hopeless because I did not know an earthly father. I let God know I expected Him to be the Father I never had, and He has not failed me yet, nor will He. When we embrace God as our Father, it is very empowering. He is our protector, shield, tower, refuge, avenger. 2 Samuel 22:3,48. God is a true Father in many ways. Time does not allow me to tell all the wonderful and miraculous things the Lord has done in my life. Suffice it to say, He continues to be a Father to me, and He will be a Father to you. 
So, that’s our podcast for today. Our prayer is that you will honor your father (and mother) as Christ honored His Father. That you will always remember that God is your Father and you are never fatherless. Most of all, fathers, we want you to remember on this Father’s Day and every day, you are “In the Heart of God.” 
Before we close, we will celebrate two years of podcasting on June 20, 2022. We thank God and you, our listeners, for your support. 
Thank you for joining us today; let’s go to Apostle Charles as he closes us with contact information.